We are proposing buildings that, like trees, are net energy exporters, produce more energy than they consume, accrue and store solar energy, and purify their own waste, water and release it slowly in a purer form.
William McdonoughRead
Design is inherently optimistic. That is its power.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Design embodies a hopeful vision for the future and its potential impact.
This quote by William McDonough highlights the optimistic nature of design, suggesting that the process of creating something new is driven by a belief in better possibilities. Design is seen not just as a practical endeavor but as a powerful tool that can inspire positive change and innovation in society.
Themes
DesignOptimismInnovationFutureCreativity
In practice
Example use cases
In a design seminar, one might quote this to inspire students about the positive impacts of their designs.
More from William Mcdonough
All quotes βDesigning renders visible our hopes and dreams. It is the first signal of human intentions.
William McdonoughRead
If we think about things having multiple lives, cradle to cradle, we could design things that can go back to either nature or back to industry forever.
William McdonoughRead
I think as designers we realize design is a signal of intention, but it also has to occur within a world and we have to understand that world in order to imbue our designs with inherent intelligence.
William McdonoughRead
Here's where redesign begins in earnest, where we stop trying to be less bad and we start figuring out how to be good.
William McdonoughRead
Designers are inherently optimistic people who try to make the world a better place
William McdonoughRead
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